The Architrave (translation of Jaime Gil de Biedma)

                                                Scaffolds for ideas

One lives among pompous people. There’s one who speaks

of the architrave and its problems

the same as if it were a cousin

-very close, actually.

And so, it seems that the architrave

is in serious danger. Nobody knows

very well why it’s like this, but they say so.

There is one who has been saying so for twenty years.

There’s one who speaks also of the enemy:

Incomprehensible beings

are everywhere to be seen, they are insinuated

the same as dust in rooms.

And there’s the one who raises scaffolds

So that it doesn’t fall: careful people.

(Curious how scaffold is not just for buildings but also a platform where people are executed.)

One goes out onto the street

And kisses a girl o buys a book,

He strolls, happy. And they look daggers at him:

But how does he dare?

                                    The architrave…! 

 ***

Original en castellano + intentos de explicación: http://books.google.es/books?id=m6JULI43dOoC&pg=PA118&lpg=PA118&dq=el+arquitrabe+gil+de+biedma&source=bl&ots=A-xdNi9LEN&sig=1vS8wE3a7IbRF9EddKIi7FOzdp8&hl=es&ei=8oKoTPKTHoHNjAfi7a3qDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=el%20arquitrabe%20gil%20de%20biedma&f=false